Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, today launched the Innovation Super League. Marking UAE Innovation Month 2022, the initiative aspires to engage the public and employees of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) in developing trailblazing solutions that contribute to enhancing food security.
Topics of the challenge include reducing food waste, increasing the share of and returns on local food products in the UAE market, boosting youth entrepreneurship in sustainable modern agriculture, and educating the public about areas of environmental importance through promoting ecotourism.
She said: "Innovation and community participation, especially that of youth, are main pillars of the UAE’s approach to sustainable development. UAE Innovation Month provides an ideal platform to motivate people to draw on their ability to innovate."
She added: "As part of MOCCAE’s participation in UAE Innovation Month, and in line with our keenness to involve the public in turning challenges into opportunities for growth that can contribute to building a better future, we have launched the Innovation Super League. The initiative encourages the Ministry’s employees and members of the community to share with us feasible out-of-the-box solutions that can help strengthen our food security, protect the environment, drive climate action through embracing climate-smart modern agricultural systems, and support youth agricultural entrepreneurship."
Running through February, the initiative has two tracks. As part of track one, four questions on the challenge topics will be posted on MOCCAE’s social media accounts – one each week – inviting the public to address them with their innovative ideas. A specialized committee will evaluate all submissions by the end of the month and identify the most feasible ones. The Ministry will then work with the winners to explore ways of implementing their ideas.
Meanwhile, track two targets MOCCAE employees. The Ministry has formed five teams of experts across its sectors. Each team will have five days to present innovative ideas focused on one of the topics of the challenge. At the end of the challenge, winning ideas and concepts will be selected, and later implemented in collaboration with stakeholders from the public and private sectors during 2022.
MOCCAE invites members of the community to follow its social media accounts, share their innovative ideas, and help build a brighter future for the UAE.